Do Dachshunds Shed? Your Guide To Grooming For Dachshund Dog Shedding
Dachshund dogs do shed, but when it comes to the amount of shedding, they are generally considered moderate shedders. However, there is some variation in the amount of shedding among the breed based on the type of coat. Dachshunds come in three different coat varieties: smooth, longhaired and wirehaired. The longer a dachshund's coat is, the more he will need to be brushed to keep his coat healthy and to help with shedding.
Smooth-Coated Dachshunds
Smooth-coated dachshunds are the most prevalent in the United States. Their short, shiny coats have led them to be considered wash-and-wear dogs. Because they have much less undercoat than longhaired and wirehaired dachshunds, they shed the least of the three varieties. They should be brushed once a week with a grooming mitt to remove dead, shedding hair.
Tip
Smooth-coated dachshunds should wear a sweater in areas with cold winters because they don't have much undercoat to keep them warm.
Longhaired Dachshunds
Longhaired Dachshunds have sleek, slightly wavy outercoats with fleecy undercoats. Their fleecy undercoats are what keep them warm in the winter and what cause them to shed more than smooth-coated dachshunds. They need to be brushed daily with a bristle brush to keep their coats tangle-free and to remove shedding hair from their outer- and undercoats. To remove any tangles that might have developed, they should be brushed with a wire-pinned brush.
Tip
Consult a professional groomer for pointers and advice because grooming longhaired dachshunds is a skill to be learned and practiced.
Wirehaired Dachshunds
Wirehaired dachshunds also have thick undercoats that make them shed more than smooth-coated dachshunds, but it is their bristly outercoats, bushy beards and bushy eyebrows that cause them to require more grooming than the other dachshund varieties. Like longhaired dachshunds, wirehaired dachshunds also require daily brushing to prevent tangles and remove shedding hair. In addition to daily brushing, wirehaired dachshunds also require stripping and plucking twice a year, as well as regular trimming of their beards and eyebrows.
Tip
Even if you choose to do daily grooming yourself, you might want to consider having the twice-yearly stripping and plucking done by a professional groomer as it is a somewhat complicated procedure.
Coat Type and Personality
According to Dogtime.com, a site written by a group of individuals with years of experience in raising, rescuing and training dogs, a dachshund's personality may be a reflection of his coat type.
The Dachshund personality can vary with coat type. Because the wirehaired Dachshunds have terrier in their background, they can be mischievous troublemakers. Longhairs are calm and quiet, and Smooths have a personality that lies somewhere in between.